Boat anchor

ABSTRACT

An anchor is provided with an elongated resilient element disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank. One end of the resilient element is provided with a ring connected with an anchor line and separably connected with one end of the shank. The other end of the resilient element is loosely connected with the anchor crown in such a manner that when one end of the resilient element is separated from the anchor shank a lifting force is applied to the anchor crown for freeing an anchor wedged in a submerged obstruction.

United States Patent 1 Woolsey et a1.

[ BOAT ANCHOR [75] Inventors: Nils S. Woolsey; Wade Van Blair,

both of Tulsa, Okla.

[73] Assignee: Quaclall Company, Inc., Tonkawa.

Okla.

[22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 320,017

[52] US. Cl .1 114/206 R [51] Int. Cl B63b 21/46 [58] Field of Search 114/206 R. 207. 208 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.857.875 10/1958 Pattonml 114/208 R 2.940.411 6/1960 Bartels et all 114/208 R 2.009.356 7/1935 De Seversky 114/206 R 3.150.629 9/1964 Fields i l 114/206 R 2.651.277 9/1953 Jenshak i .1 114/208 R 2.365.136 12/1944 Behrens 114/206 R 1 Mar. 19, 1974 3,714.730 2/1973 Lloyd 43/172 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 485.605 10/1953 Italy 114/207 Primary Examiner-Duane A. Reger Assistant Examiner--Galen L. Barefoot Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert K. Rhea 5 7 ABSTRACT An anchor is provided with an elongated resilient element disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank. One end of the resilient element is provided with a ring connected with an anchor line and separably connected with one: end of the shank. The other end of the resilient element is loosely connected with the anchor crown in such a manner that when one end of the resilient element is separated from the anchor shank a lifting force is applied to the anchor crown for freeing an anchor wedged in a submerged obstruction.

BOAT ANCHOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to boats and more particularly to an anchor which may be retrieved when stuck by exerting a force on its crown end portion.

Anchors frequently become wedged or stuck within submerged obstructions wherein the arms of the anchor prevent weighing the anchor by an anchor line pull on the end of the anchor shank and many times re sults in the necessity of cutting the anchor line and a loss of the anchor.

2. Description of the Prior Art This anchor, in general appearance, resembles conventional anchors comprising a shank portion and three arcuate arms connected with one end of the shank in radially spaced relation. However, this anchor is distinctive over conventional anchors by providing an elongated resilient element,.such as a spring, which extends longitudinally of the shank intermediate its ends and is removably connected with one end of the shank for separation therefrom when desired and is connected at its other end in such a fashion that a force exerted on the resilient element will be applied to the crown end of the anchor for dislodging a wedged or stuck anchor.

We do not know of any patents disclosing this feature for an anchor.

An elongated shank is provided with radially spaced arcuate arms at one end portion forming an anchor crown end. The other end of the shank coaxially receives one end portion of a mandrel extending, at its other end portion, beyond the end of the shank opposite the crown end. An elongated resilient element, such as a helical spring, having a length less than the length of the anchor shank, is connected at one end with a loop loosely slidably surrounding the free end portion of the mandrel adjacent its connection with the shank. This loop is provided with an anchorline connecting ring. The other end of the spring is loosely connected with a guide rod. The guide rod is connected at one end with the anchor crown in radial off-set relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank. The guide rod .is bent or arcuately curved, intermediate its ends, to extend at its other end portion between two of the anchor arms and longitudinally toward the other end of the shank where it is connected to the shank, adjacent the anchor neck, so that a force of predetermined magnitude, applied to the anchor ringby the anchor line, expands the spring and moves the spring connected loop off the free end of the mandrel permitting the force applied to the spring to move the guide rod connected end of the spring to the crown end of the anchor to lift the latter from a wedged engagement with a submerged obstruction.

The principle object of this invention is to provide a boat anchor having means for dislodging the anchor when wedged with a submerged obstruction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thedevice in operative position when engaging a submergedobject, the latter being shown by dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a side view, to a larger scale, partially in section, illustrating, by dotted lines, the manner of releasing the anchor when wedged against a submerged ob ject;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view illustrating a coaxial pull on the anchor from its crown end;

FIG. 4 is a crown end view of the anchor;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating another embodiment; and,

FIG. 6 is a crown end view of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates the anchor, as a whole, having a shank portion 12 and a plurality of arms 14, three in the example shown, connected in radially spaced relation to one end of the shank 12 forming a crown end 16 for the anchor. Each. of the arms 14 are plate-like in configuration being connected at one end, as by welding,.to a peripheral portion of the shank 12 and are characterized by a convex surface 18, merging with the crown end and an inner concave surface 20 extending laterally of the shank from its neck or throat area 19. The arm surfaces 18 and 20 intersect outwardly of the shank to form a tip end. 22 for each arm. The end of the shank 12, opposite its crown end, is drilled a selected depth to form a socket 23 for receiving one end portion of a mandrel 24 which projects coaxially beyond the shaft 12 a selected distance. The shaft 12 and mandrel 24 are transversely drilled, as at 26, for receiving a cotter pin 28, or the like, permitting removal of the mandrel from the shaft for the reasons presently explained.

An elongated guide rod 30 is connected, at one end 32, to the periphery of the shank adjacent the throat or neck area of the anchor and extends a short distance laterally of the shank normal to its longitudinal axis and is turned at substantially right angle, as at 34, to extend beyond the crown end 16 of the anchor between two of the arms 14. The other end 36 of the rod 30 is secured to the crown end of the anchor in off-set relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank with the rod 30 being arcuately curved, as at 38, so that the smaller radius of the arcuate curve 38 extends transversely across the longitudinal axis of the shank at the crown end thereof for the purposes presently explained.

A resilient element, preferably a helical spring 40,

, has the loop or ring portion 42, at one of its ends, surrounding the glide rod 30 adjacent its end 32. The

spring 40 extends longitudinally of the shank 12 from its connection with the rod 30 substantially equidistant, when in relaxed position, with the end of the shank .12 opposite its crown end 16. This last mentioned end of the spring 40 is secured to one end portion of a link 44 with the other end portion of the link 44 loosely surrounding the outwardly projecting end portion of the mandrel 24. The link 44 is also connected with an anchor line ring member 46 which projects beyond the link connected end of the spring for receiving one end portion of an anchor line 48. The spacing between the guide rod,30 and shank 12 and crown end 16 is preferably at least equal to the inside diameter of the spring loop 42, to insure freedom of movement of the loop 42 along the rod 30.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, the alternative embodiment comprises a shank 12A which is coaxially connected with the concave surface 50 of a substantially cup-shaped anchor member 52. The anchor member 52 is provided with a substantially V- shaped notch or recess 54 for connecting the guide rod 30A thereto in the manner described hereinabove. An identical spring member 40A is similarly connected to the rod 30A and functions in the manner presently described.

OPERATION In operation, the anchor 10, connected with the anchor line 48, is dropped overboard and engages an obstruction, such as is shown by the dotted lines 56. In the event the anchor arms 14 are wedged in such a manner that the anchor cannot be released from engagement with the obstruction 56, a force is exerted on the anchor line 48, in the direction of the arrow 58, sufficient to expand the spring 40 a distance permitting release of the spring connected link 44 from engagement with the free end portion of the mandrel 24. This permits the rod connected loop 42 of the spring to slide along the rod 30 to the arcuately curved portion 38 of the rod so that a force applied to the anchor line, in the direction of the arrow 60, releases the anchor arms 14 from engagement with the obstruction 56 and a retrieval of the anchor by it assuming the position illustrated in FIG. 3. In moving the spring loop 42 toward the arcuate portion 38 of the rod it may be necessary for the operator to move the boat, not shown, to a position substantially opposite the previous boat anchored position.

We claim:

l. A boat anchor, comprising:

an elongated shank having a coaxial socket formed in one of its ends;

anchor arm means rigidly connected in radially spaced relation with the other end portion of said shank forming a crown end and a throat area;

a mandrel removably secured at one end portion within the socket and projecting at its other end portion beyond the adjacent end of said shank;

a helical spring having a length, when in relaxed position, less than the length of said shank;

means connecting the ends of said spring with said mandrel and said crown end, respectively, for longitudinal sliding movement of the ends of said spring with respect to said shank, said connecting means including,

a link loosely surrounding said mandrel adjacent its connection with said shaft,

said link being connected with the adjacent end of said spring,

a rod connected at one end directly to said shank intermediate the ends thereof adjacent said throat area and extending, intermediate its length, generally parallel with the axis of said shank with its other end portion being arcuately curved to extend, in spaced relation, diametrically across said crown end and connected therewith,

the end of said spring" adjacent said rod having a loop loosely surrounding said rod and being slidable therealong; and,

an anchor line connecting ring connected with the end of said spring adjacent said mandrel. 

1. A boat anchor, comprising: an elongated shank having a coaxial socket formed in one of its ends; anchor arm means rigidly connected in radially spaced relation with the other end portion of said shank forming a crown end and a throat area; a mandrel removably secured at one end portion within the socket and projecting at its other end portion beyond the adjacent end of said shank; a helical spring having a length, when in relaxed position, less than the length of said shank; means connecting the ends of said spring with said mandrel and said crown end, respectively, for longitudinal sliding movement of the ends of said spring with respect to said shank, said connecting means including, a link loosely surrounding said mandrel adjacent its connection with said shaft, said link being connected with the adjacent end of said spring, a rod connected at one end directly to said shank intermediate the ends thereof adjacent said throat area and extending, intermediate its length, generally parallel with the axis of said shank with its other end portion being arcuately curved to extend, in spaced relation, diametrically across said crown end and connected therewith, the end of said spring adjacent said rod having a loop loosely surrounding said rod and being slidable therealong; and, an anchor line connecting ring connected with the end of said spring adjacent said mandrel. 